Red Light Tickets In New York

There are two ways to get caught running a red light: 1) being personally pulled over by a police officer and 2) being caught on a red light camera and having the ticket sent in the mail to you. It is vital to know the fundamental differences between both of these and the penalties associated with them.

When Police Pull You Over for Running a Red Light in NY

Running a red light in New York is consistently ranked the number one most commonly ticketed offense in the state. When you are caught running a red light, a police officer can issue you a ticket either for violating VTL 1110a (i.e. failing to obey a traffic control device) or VTL 1111(d)-1 (i.e. passed red light). It is a known fact that these tickets bring in a lot of revenue to the state, and, unfortunately, many people do not fight them. Do not be one of these people! Make sure to contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney who can help you avoid the negative consequences of a conviction for VTL 1110a and/or VTL 1111(d)-1.

VTL 1110a

A person who is convicted of failing to obey a traffic control device (i.e. running a red light in NY) can face the following penalties:

Fine of up to $150

Surcharge of $80-$85

2 Points on Your License

Up to 15 Days in Jail

Many individuals caught running a red light are charged with Reckless Driving (a crime). Imagine shelling out $235 for the fine and surcharge, getting 2 points on your license, having your car insurance premium skyrocket, and possibly serving time in jail. Do not let this scenario happen to you. Be prepared and hire a New York traffic ticket attorney to fight your red light ticket.

VTL 1111(d)-1

Aside from failing to obey a traffic control device, you might be issued a ticket for violating VTL 1111(d)-1. The penalty you face depends on whether you were within a city containing over one million people or not.

If you ran a red light outside of a city of one million people or more and were charged with VTL 1111(d)-1, you can face the following penalties: